Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob's defamation suit against Utusan Malaysia has finally been settled after they agreed for an out of court settlement.

Both parties recorded a consent judgment before Judge Nik Hasmat Nik Mohamad at the Kuala Lumpur High Court today.

No cost was ordered.

Umno-owned newspaper Utusan Malaysia agreed to publish a statement on its second page tomorrow expressing its regret over an article titled "Hebat sangatkah Adnan" published in 2014 and offered to conduct an interview with Adnan.

In the statement, Utusan acknowledged that Adnan is a leader who has successfully led the Barisan Nasional leadership in Pahang for four consecutive terms.

"We also realise that Adnan was very disappointed with the article [...] published on November 9, 2014, which affected his reputation.

"We want to take the opportunity to explain that we had no intention to hurt his feelings and affect his reputation," read the statement to be published tomorrow.

The interview session, on the other hand, will be conducted between Adnan and a senior Utusan editor one week from today.

The interview will centre on Adnan's success in administering Pahang for four consecutive terms and his aspirations for the state.

The article will be published right after the paper obtains Adnan's agreement on the contents of the article.

Meanwhile, Adnan's lawyer Americk Sidhu told reporters later that Adnan was persuaded to agree with the use of the word "regret" as opposed to "sorry" in Utusan's statement.

"In a sense, it's a good settlement, everybody goes back happy, this is what we want.

"He (Adnan) regains his dignity. Utusan is paying back by restoring integrity. Not every defamation (case) must get money," he said, adding that the deal was "better than money".

During mediation last week, the contention was whether the Umno-owned newspaper would use the word "sorry" in its statement. Utusan had proposed to express regret.

Adnan had filed the defamation suit against Utusan over the above-mentioned article in 2014.

While the KL High Court had dismissed Utusan's application to strike out the suit, the Court of Appeal had, on March 1, last year, ruled to strike it out based on the pleadings in the statement of claim.

Subsequently, the Federal Court, in a unanimous decision, had reinstated the suit while ordering the matter to go to full trial at the Kuala Lumpur High Court, and not allow the matter be summarily dismissed through striking out.